Hastings fends off Tiger women in GPAC play

HASTINGS, Neb. – Down 55-35 with 7:23 remaining in the game, the No. 6 Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team came within seven points of No. 19 Hastings College, but it wasn't enough. The Broncos defeated the Tigers 63-54 in Great Plains Athletic Conference action on Saturday in Hastings, Neb.

 Sparked by a 3-pointer from Amber Bray (Anoka, Minn.), the Tigers led 18-15 at the end of the first quarter. However, the Broncos capitalized by missed shots from DWU in the second quarter and ultimately took a 28-22 lead heading into the locker room.

 Coming out of the break, Amber Bray nailed another 3-pointer, but Hastings made quick work and ran out to a 12-point lead with 6:57 to play in the third quarter. From the 4:52 mark to the end of the quarter, the Broncos held the Tigers to six points and led 51-35.

 The Tigers (10-2, 4-2 GPAC) didn't go down without a fight in the fourth quarter. Both teams were stalled for nearly two minutes at 55-37, until Kynedi Cheeseman (Alexandria, S.D.) hit a jumper to put the Tigers within 16 points. With under two minutes to play, Amber Bray hit another long-range 3-pointer, followed by a three-point play by Chesney Nagel (Springfield, S.D.) putting the Tigers within striking distance with 56 seconds to play in the contest. Half a minute later, Cheeseman nailed a 3-pointer, but the Broncos kept the Tigers off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game.

 Cheeseman led the Tigers with 22 points on 4-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc. Nagel and Amber Bray added 12 points apiece, while Bray chipped in four boards.

 The Tigers welcome Briar Cliff University for a GPAC contest at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Corn Palace in Mitchell.